On the PGA Tour you're considered a rookie when it's your first full year with exemptions. So even if you've played in events previously, you're still considered to be in your first year. With all that said, Brendan Steele really is a rookie on the PGA Tour as prior to this year, he had not tee'd it up in a PGA event (for context, Matteo Manaserro is a decade younger and has already played in six PGA Tour sanctioned events and won twice on the European Tour). And after recording pars on his last 11 holes he's also a winner on the PGA Tour, winning the Valero Texas Open by one stroke over Kevin Chappell. Prior to this week, his best finish on Tour was a T17 at the Farmers Insurance Open. And in that tournament his end result wasn't nearly as notable as what he had to say about his final round playing partner, Tiger Woods.
"I don't think he gave it everything today," Steele told SI. "Once it started going in the wrong direction, I don’t think it had his full attention."
From being notable for what you said, to being notable for how you played -- not bad. On top of all that, he gets a two year exemption and an invitation to next year's Masters.
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